Peoria Standard

Darin LaHood, U.S. Congressman representing Illinois’ 16th district since 2015, has recently addressed several national security and public health issues through a series of posts on his social media account.

On July 16, 2025, LaHood highlighted the ongoing impact of fentanyl in the United States, stating, "Fentanyl continues to wreak havoc in communities across Illinois and the country, claiming thousands of lives each year. I applaud President Trump's signing of the HALT Fentanyl Act to tackle this crisis. It is critical we keep the momentum going."

The following day, July 17, 2025, LaHood commented on foreign policy concerns related to China: "The CCP's relentless pursuit of expanding overseas military bases threatens U.S. national security and stability in the Pacific. I'm proud to co-lead the bipartisan COUNTER Act to provide resources to combat the CCP's basing activities while protecting our regional interests."

On July 18, 2025, he turned attention to U.S. defense spending: "To confront the generational threat posed by our foreign adversaries, the U.S. must invest in our military to deter further aggression. I voted for the FY 2026 Defense Appropriations Act to deliver critical resources to our armed forces and maintain our strategic advantage."

LaHood’s comments reflect his ongoing focus on both domestic and international security challenges. He has represented Illinois’ 16th District since succeeding Aaron Schock in 2015 and resides in Peoria, Illinois. Born in Peoria in 1968, LaHood holds a BA from Loras College and a JD from John Marshall Law School in Chicago.